Bicycle lock

ABSTRACT

A bicycle lock for blocking a rotation of the crankshaft ( 5 ) of a bicycle is provided at the bottom in a saddle tube ( 6 ) of the bicycle close to the crankshaft. The bicycle lock comprises a lock housing ( 1 ) accommodating a locking pin ( 2 ) and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is adapted to fix the locking pin in two positions, wherein it releases or blocks the crankshaft. The bicycle lock is provided with coupling means ( 12 ) which are adapted to interact with counter-coupling means being part of the saddle tube in order to have a detachable coupling between the lock housing and the saddle tube. The lock housing ( 1 ) is coupled to the saddle tube ( 6 ) by a rotating coupling ( 12 ). The locking pin in the lower position thereof blocks the rotation of the coupling between the block housing and the saddle tube.

The invention relates to a bicycle lock for blocking a rotation of thecrankshaft of a bicycle, the bicycle lock being provided at the bottomin a saddle tube of the bicycle close to the crankshaft, the bicyclelock comprising a lock housing accommodating a locking pin and a lockingmechanism, the locking mechanism being adapted to be operated by a keyto be inserted through a hole in the saddle tube, the locking mechanismbeing adapted to fix the locking pin in two positions, wherein thelocking pin in an upper position thereof releases the crankshaft and ina lower position thereof blocks the crankshaft, an end of the lockingpin in the lower position thereof engaging a matching notch in thecrankshaft.

The prevention of theft of bicycles has resulted in a large number ofpatent applications which have all been classified in the IPC classes B62H 5/00 regarding accessories and built-in bicycle locks, B 62H 5/08regarding features to prevent riding and B 62H 5/10 regarding featureswhich act on a pedal crank. EP-A-0 630 802 describes a lock which actson the crankshaft. Locks of the type as described in the above-mentionedEuropean patent application are not or hardly applied due to thecomplexity of the assembly and maintenance or due to the restrictions inreplacement options without jeopardising the quality of the blocking ofthe crankshaft.

The object of the invention is to provide a replaceable bicycle lockwhich blocks the crankshaft.

To reach this object, the invention provides a bicycle lock of the typeas mentioned in the preamble, the bicycle lock being provided withcoupling means which are adapted to interact with counter-coupling meansbeing part of the saddle tube in order to have a detachable couplingbetween the lock housing and the saddle tube, the lock housing beingcoupled to the saddle tube by a rotating coupling, the locking pin inthe lower position thereof blocking the rotation of the coupling betweenthe lock housing and the saddle tube.

The bicycle lock according to the invention can therefore be placed as acomplete unit in the saddle tube of a bicycle and rotated into positionthrough, for example, a threaded connection, a V-groove connection or abayonet connection at the bottom in the saddle tube, the connection alsobeing secured when the bicycle lock is locked with the key and thelocking pin of the bicycle lock catches in a matching notch in thecrankshaft, so that the bicycle lock cannot be removed from the saddletube when the bicycle is locked. On the other hand the bicycle lock canbe rotated, disconnected and removed in its entirety when the bicycle isnot locked. This solution makes it possible to apply locks oncrankshafts, while retaining the quality requirements with regard toadequate maintenance, or the possibility of replacing the bicycle lockif the lock does not function adequately.

It must be noted that the bicycle lock can also be applied on bicycleswhich are provided with a so-called closed crankshaft, wherein thecrankshaft is surrounded by a cylindrical protective element. It isclear that in this case the protective element has a lead-throughopening for part of the locking pin.

In the following, the invention is explained in greater detail on thebasis of the enclosed drawings, which are in no way intended to restrictthe extent of protection, but merely to show possible embodiments.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a section of a part of bicycle frame at thebicycle lock according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a section II-II just above a base plate of the bicycle lockaccording to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a section III-III according to FIG. 1 on the level of theend of the locking pin in the crankshaft.

FIG. 4 shows a side view, partially cut-away, of an embodiment of thebicycle lock according to the invention for an bayonet coupling of thelock housing to a saddle tube.

FIG. 5 shows a side view, partially cut-away, of an embodiment of abicycle lock to be glued in a saddle tube.

In the different Figures, the same reference numerals indicate the sameor similar parts.

As shown by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the bicycle lock according to theinvention comprises a lock housing 1 in which a locking pin 2 ispositioned. The locking pin 2 consists of two parts, that is to say, abottom part 21 and a top part 23, which are coupled to each otherthrough a spring element 25. The locking pin 2 can be placed in twopositions by means of lock mechanism 3 and key 4, being a lower positionin which the locking pin 2 blocks the crankshaft 5 of a bicycle,represented by a thick line showing the locking pin in FIG. 1, the lowerend 22 of the locking or lower part 21 of the locking pin 2 catching inone of two matching notches 51 or 52 of crankshaft 5, and an upperposition in which the locking pin 2 is placed back in the lock housing1, represented by the positions of ends 22 a and 23 a of the locking pin2 indicated by a thin line in FIG. 1. The spring element 25 of thelocking pin 2 enables locking of the bicycle without one of the matchingnotches 51 of 52 being exactly positioned before the end 22 of thelocking pin 2. If there is a sufficient rotation of crankshaft 5, theend 22 of the bottom part 21 of the locking pin 2 will be pressed in oneof the matching notches 51 of 52 by the pressure force generated inspring element 25, when one of the notches 51 or 52 is positioned beforethe end 22.

Generally speaking, one or more notches may be used in the crankshaft 5.Each notch may take the form of a blind hole or a groove or any othersuitable form. In case of a groove, the bottom of the groove may extendin line with the longitudinal axis or the locking pin, when the lockingpin is in its lower position blocking the rotation of the crankshaft.The shape and number of the notches may be determined by the mechanicalstrength required in the crankshaft to perform its normal function, andto prevent theft of the bicycle by breaking the crankshaft, when thelocking pin engages the crankshaft.

The lock mechanism 3 moves the locking pin 2 with a gearing or eccentric31, in accordance with the applied lock mechanism 3, via a structure 26prepared for this purpose to top part 23 of locking pin 2.

The top part 23 of the locking pin 2 can also be fitted with a catchsystem 27 for mounting a connector of a cable bicycle lock through anopening in the side of the saddle tube 6, so that the bicycle can alsobe tied to a street object with the same lock.

The lock housing 1 has a base plate 11 with a threaded, V-groove orbayonet system 12. The lock housing 1 comprises a number of guides 13for guiding the locking pin 2, a space 14 for the lock mechanism 3 aswell as an insert 15 for reinforcing the lock housing 1, or for possiblesupport of a catch system 27 for fitting a cable bicycle lock incooperation with the top part 23 of the locking pin 2 at a possibleopening in the side of the saddle tube 6. The lock housing 1 includes aclosing plate 16 which has a hexagonal hole 17 for a socket-head wrench,or an engagement structure for a special tool for assembly ordisassembly of the lock housing 1, as well as an attachment 18 betweenthe closing plate 16 and the lock housing 1 which is secured in such away that it cannot be released if the lock housing 1 is fixed orreleased in the saddle tube 6. The lock housing 1 is placed in acrankshaft casing at the bottom in the saddle tube 6 by means of thethreaded connection or V-groove connection or bayonet connection 12 insuch a way that the distance between the bottom side of base plate 11 ofthe lock housing 1 and the crankshaft 5 is as small as possible, so thatthe distance to be bridged by the locking pin 2 to the crankshaft 5 isas small as possible, with the aim to give the blocking of thecrankshaft 5 the best possible mechanical strength. Furthermore, thelock housing 1 is secured against the releasing rotation of the lockhousing 1 in the connection 12 at the bottom in the saddle tube 6 by theeccentric arrangement of locking pin 2 in the lock housing 1.

The crankshaft 5 is provided with one or more milled tangentiallymatching notches, FIG. 1 showing two notches 51 and 52. Thesetangentially matching notches 51 and 52 are axially bounded as shown fornotch 51 in FIG. 3, with the aim of preventing that the bicycle can bereleased from the bicycle lock by opening a crankshaft house andremoving crankshaft 5 outwards in an axial direction. This possibilityis prevented by the indicated limited space of the tangentially matchingnotches 51 and 52.

Furthermore, it is indicated in FIG. 3 that the end 22 of the lockingpin 2 has been ground in such a way that a more or less trapezium-shapedsection is obtained which catches in the milled tangentially matchingnotch 51 in such a way that also by this composition of pin 22 and space51 the releasing of the lock housing 1 by rotation has becomeimpossible.

The forms, materials and dimensions of the various components that arepart of the invention can be varied within reasonable bounds, thesection of locking pin 2 may be sector-shaped as shown in the Figures,but it is also possible to choose a trapezium-shaped, rectangular,square or even circular section if the locking pin 2 is fitted in thelock housing 1 eccentrically.

Moreover, it is also possible to have a design with a concentricallyapplied locking pin, if the pin has a trapezium-shaped, rectangular,square or hexagonal section that catches in a similarly shaped notch inthe crankshaft. This may also help to secure the bicycle lock when thebicycle is locked.

It is also possible to freely choose the applied connection between lockhousing 1 on the one hand and the saddle tube 6 with the crankshaftcasing on the other hand, under the condition that a rotation, howeversmall, is required for the assembly and disassembly of the lock housing1 at the bottom in the saddle tube 6 in order to make the securingpossible through locking pin 2 when the bicycle is locked.

FIG. 4 shows a bicycle lock comprising a lock housing 1 a which at abottom end thereof is provided with one or more radially outwardlyextending pins 60. A saddle tube 6 (not shown) shaped in conformity withthis embodiment comprises at least one ridge extending radially and atleast partially circumferentially along the inner wall of the saddletube 6 at the bottom thereof. The lock housing 1 a is mounted in thesaddle tube 6 by lowering the at least one pin 60 to below the level ofthe ridge in the saddle tube 6, and rotating the at least one pin 60through an angle such that the at least one pin 60 is situated below theridge, thereby preventing a removal of the lock housing 1 a from thesaddle tube 6 in an axial direction, in particular when the locking pin2 (not shown) of the bicycle lock in the lower position thereof blocks arotation of the lock housing 1 a in the saddle tube 6.

It is to be noted that the at least one pin 60 may also be spring-loadedto be able to press the pin 60 into the lock housing 1 a, whereby thepin 60 does not extend from the lock housing 1 a. With such aconstruction, said ridge may extend fully circumferentially along theinner wall of the saddle tube 6, and may take the form of a collar.During mounting of the lock housing 1 a, the at least one pin 60 may bepressed inwardly by a suitable tool until the at least one pin 60 haspassed the ridge or collar, after which the at least one pin 60 isreleased to block a movement of the lock housing 1 a in the reversedirection.

The lock housings 1, 1 a according to the invention may be press fittedinto the saddle tube 6, in addition to their rotational coupling to thesaddle tube 6.

FIG. 5 shows a lock housing 1 b being provided with a firstcircumferential groove 71 below the lock mechanism 3 and a secondcircumferential groove 72 below the lock mechanism 3. The grooves arespaced apart from each other. Groove 72 is situated near an end of thelock housing 1 b, whereas groove 71 is situated near the lock mechanism3. In each groove 71, 72 an O-ring 73 is provided. The outer diameter ofthe O-rings 73 substantially equals the inner diameter of the saddletube 6 (not shown). The saddle tube 6 is provided with a key hole forinserting a key into lock mechanism 3. The lock housing 1 b is mountedby sliding it down into the saddle tube 6 until the area between theO-rings 73 is situated opposite to the key hole in the saddle tube 6.Next, the space enclosed by the outer wall of the lock housing 1 bbetween the O-rings 73, the inner wall of the saddle tube 6 opposite tothe outer wall of the lock housing 1 b, and the O-rings 73 is filledwith a suitable glue through the key hole in the saddle tube.Advantageously, when filling said space with glue, the O-ring 73 in thegroove 71 is situated just above, or at the level of the key hole, inorder to be able to apply a maximum amount of glue to obtain a mostsecure fixing of the lock housing 1 b in the saddle tube 6 when the gluehas hardened. After filling said space with glue, the lock housing 1 bis brought into position while the glue still permits movement of thelock housing 1 b. This embodiment and procedure solves the problem ofsimply and reliably applying glue inside a saddle tube for glueing alock housing in a saddle tube in a predetermined position, and at thesame time preventing the glue to contaminate the lock housing ordisturbing the functioning of the bicycle lock. After hardening of theglue, the bicycle lock cannot be removed from the saddle tube withoutirreparibly damaging the frame of the bicycle.

Instead of two O-rings 73 in combination with the grooves 71 and 72,respectively, only one O-ring 73 in combination with groove 72 can alsobe used, omitting the O-ring 73 and the groove 71.

In view of a possible centring function of an O-ring and groovecombination for centring the lock housing 1 b in a saddle tube, thisfunction may also be obtained by other means being situated at adistance from the O-ring 73 in groove 72.

Instead of a combination of an O-ring and groove, also another resilientor non-resilient sealing member may be used, which is glued to, orotherwise connected with the lock housing 1 b, or which may beintegrally formed therewith.

The bicycle lock according to the invention is not restricted to theconstruction example shown in the drawings and as described above. It ispossible to introduce variations in several ways within the scope of theinvention. E.g., for a further theft protection, a steel ball (notshown) may be accommodated in the upper part of the lock housing toprevent a destruction of the bicycle lock by drilling into the lockhousing from above through the saddle tube. The steel ball diverts thetip of the drill laterally, and thus protects the lower parts of thelock housing.

The bicycle lock according to the invention is not restricted in its usein other situations or applications.

1. Bicycle lock for blocking rotation of the crankshaft of a bicycle,the bicycle lock being provided at the bottom in a saddle tube of thebicycle close to the crankshaft, the bicycle lock comprising a lockhousing accommodating a locking pin and a locking mechanism, the lockingmechanism being adapted to be operated by a key to be inserted through ahole in the saddle tube, the locking mechanism being adapted to fix thelocking pin in two positions, wherein the locking pin in an upperposition thereof releases the crankshaft and in a lower position thereofblocks the crankshaft, an end of the locking pin in the lower positionthereof engaging a matching notch in the crankshaft, the bicycle lockbeing provided with coupling means which are adapted to interact withcounter-coupling means being part of the saddle tube in order to have adetachable coupling between the lock housing and the saddle tube, thelock housing being coupled to the saddle tube by a rotating coupling,the locking pin in the lower position thereof blocking the rotation ofthe coupling between the lock housing and the saddle tube.
 2. Bicyclelock according to claim 1, wherein the lock housing is fitted in thesaddle tube by means of a threaded connection.
 3. Bicycle lock accordingto claim 1, wherein the lock housing is fitted in the saddle tube bymeans of a bayonet connection.
 4. Bicycle lock according to claim 1,wherein the lock housing is fitted in the saddle tube by means of aV-groove connection.
 5. Bicycle lock according to claim 1, wherein thelocking pin has an eccentric position in the lock housing.
 6. Bicyclelock according to claim 5, wherein the lower end of the locking pin iscylinder-shaped and catches in a cylinder-shaped notch in thecrankshaft.
 7. Bicycle lock according to claim 1, wherein the lower endof the locking pin is unrotatably catchable in a tangentially matchingnotch of the crankshaft.
 8. Bicycle lock according to claim 7, whereinthe section of the lower end of the locking pin is trapezium-shaped. 9.Bicycle lock according to claim 7, wherein the section of the lower endof the locking pin is rectangular.
 10. Bicycle lock according to claim9, wherein the section of the lower end of the locking pin is square.11. Bicycle lock according to claim 7, wherein the section of the lowerend of the locking pin is hexagonal.
 12. Bicycle lock according to claim1, wherein the locking pin comprises two parts which are coupled to eachother through a spring element.
 13. Bicycle lock according to claim 1,wherein the lock mechanism is a cross lock.
 14. Bicycle lock accordingto claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is a cylinder lock.
 15. Bicyclelock according to claim 1, wherein the bicycle lock also includes acatch system for fitting a cable bicycle lock.